How to Change the Owner of Your AirPods
To change the owner of your AirPods, remove them from your Apple Account first. Open the Find My app, tap the Devices tab, tap your AirPods, swipe up, then tap Remove This Device.
That unpairs them from you. The new owner can then pair the AirPods to their own Apple Account and use every feature, including Find My.
AirPods can only be linked to one Apple Account at a time, so this step matters before you sell or hand them off.
Why you have to remove AirPods from your Apple Account
Your AirPods stay tied to your Apple Account even after you put them away.
If you skip this step, the new owner may see them show up under your name, or run into Find My blocks.
Removing them clears that link so the AirPods act brand new for the next person.
Change the owner on an iPhone or iPad
This is the easiest way and works even if the AirPods are not connected.
- Open the Find My app. The icon is a green radar circle with a blue dot.
- Tap the Devices tab at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap your AirPods in the list.
- Swipe up on the panel that appears at the bottom.
- Tap Remove This Device.
- Tap Remove again to confirm.
The AirPods now drop off your account. You can hand them over.
Change the owner on a Mac
You can do the same thing from a Mac if that is easier for you.
- Open the Find My app.
- Click the Devices tab.
- Select your AirPods in the list.
- On the map, click the More Info button, which looks like a small letter i in a circle.
- Click Remove This Device.
Change the owner from a web browser
No Apple device handy? Use iCloud on any computer.
- Go to icloud.com and sign in with your Apple Account.
- Open Find Devices.
- Select your AirPods from the device list.
- Click Remove This Device.
This works even if you already gave the AirPods away and just need them off your account.
If you cannot get into your account to do this, start with our steps on how to reset a forgotten Apple ID password.
How the new owner sets them up
Once the AirPods are off your account, the new owner pairs them like any new pair.
- Put both AirPods in the case and open the lid.
- Hold the case next to an iPhone that is on and at the home screen.
- Wait for the setup card to slide up on the screen.
- Tap Connect and follow the prompts.
If the AirPods do not pop up, press and hold the small button on the back of the case until the light blinks white, then try again.
Stuck at the setup step? Our guide on what to do when your iPhone will not find your AirPods walks through it. The AirPods light colors guide explains what each blink means.
What if you no longer have the AirPods?
You can still remove them using icloud.com or the Find My app, as shown above.
If the AirPods were lost or stolen, you can leave them in Find My and mark them as lost, so they cannot be fully used by someone else.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to reset AirPods before selling them?
Removing them from your Apple Account is the key step. You can also reset them by holding the case button for about 15 seconds until the light flashes amber then white, which clears their pairing memory.
Can AirPods be linked to two Apple Accounts at once?
No. AirPods pair to one Apple Account at a time. The old owner has to remove them before the new owner can fully claim them.
Will removing AirPods from my account delete my other data?
No. It only unpairs the AirPods. Your photos, messages, and other devices stay untouched.
What happens to AppleCare when I give AirPods away?
If your AirPods have an AppleCare plan, you can cancel it or transfer it to the new owner through Apple Support.